Arrangement for treating strip material



Dec. 8,"

` uNssfnen SNL ARRANGEMENT FOR 'HEATING sr'rnn MATERIAL Filed may s.`Isfs United Safes Patent o1 ace 3,545,243 Patented Dec. 8, 19703,545,243 ARRANGEMENT FOR TREATING STRIP MATERIAL Fritz Ungerer,deceased, late of Pforzheim, Germany, by

Irma Ungerer, heir, Pforzheim, Germany, assignor to Irma Ungerer,Pforzheim, Germany Filed May 8, 1968, Ser. No. 727,589 Claims priority,applictirir 9(iermany, May 31, 1967,

Int. c1. Bzld 1/02 U.S. Cl. 72--160 10 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally tothe treatingof strip material, and more particularly to an arrangementfor treating the strip material. Still more specifically, the inventionis directed to the treating of continuously advancing sheet metal strip.

In the manufacture of sheet metal plates and strips, which hereafterwill simply be identified as strips but which term is intended toinclude also metal plate, the sheets and strips are produced from metalingots n rolling mills. As a result of the rolling and other processingsteps, including various thermal treatments which the materialundergoes, the thus-produced strips are possessed of internal strainswhose magnitude varies over the strip width, resulting in buckling and awavy configuration of the strip material. It is clear that the stripmust be straightened before it can be further processed into blanks andnished products, because otherwise exact dimensioning of the blanks andinished products would not be possible. Furthermore, the presence of theinternal strains causing this wavy configuration also affects thedeformability of the strip as well as its weldability and fatigueresistance and its ability to withstand so-called tensional corrosion.

To eliminate these objectionable features, and to render the strip flatand smooth while simultaneously eliminating the inherent tensions, it isknown to treat the strip in straightening machines, usually of rollertype. Machines of this type straighten the two outer-marginal zones ofthe strip, that is the bands, ribbons or plates being treated, bystretching them and flexing them. However, they are not capable ofcompletely treating the center zone intermediate the marginal zones andheretofore it has therefore been accepted that the center zone retainedaforementioned stresses upon undergoing straightening treatment in thesemachines. These residual stresses were then eliminated by stretching thestrip in addition to treating it with the straightening machines so thatthe material in the center zone of the strip was also stretched to theyield point. 'Ihis composite treatment resulted in the provision ofstress-relieved strip which was ready for further processing.

It is evident that for these composite treatments it is necessary toprovide rather complicated machines, particularly in view of the factthat it is difficult to produce the desired stretchingV tof the strip ifthe strip `advances continuously. Particularly under this last-mentionedcircumstance, it has heretofore been necessary tot utilize veryexpensive control devices.

It is thus a general object of the present invention to overcome theaforementioned disadvantages known from the prior art.

A further object of the invention is to provide an arrangement of thetype here under discussion which is capable of subjecting stripmaterial, that is plate or sheets as well as ribbons or strips, to acombined iiexing and straightening action as well as to extension insuch a manner that the latter is not interfered with by the former andso that these treatments may be carried out on continuously advancingmaterial with ease and simplicity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with one feature of my inventionI provide an arrangement for treating strip material, and morespecifically continuously advancing sheet metal strip, which includesstrip pay-out means and strip withdrawing means which latter isoperative for withdrawing strip from the pay-out means in apredetermined path and at a predetermined tension. Strip flexing andstraightening means is arranged adjacent to this path and is soconstructed and arranged as to subject the strip in this path to iiexingand straightening without affecting the predetermined tension.

With this construction according to my invention the tensile forceexerted by the withdrawing means on the strip is directly transferred tothe pay-out means so that j the tension in the strip is the sameupstream of as well as downstream of the strip flexing and straighteningmeans. This, of course, makes it possible to control the elongation ofthe strip, that is the tensile force applied to it, simply bycontrolling the traction existing between the pay-outY means and thewithdrawing means so as to obtain the` desired extension and stressrelief requisite for use of the strip in a given application. Theflexing which the strip undergoes in the ilexing and straightening`means, combined with the tension applied to the strip, serve to assurethat the strip approaches the yield point `quickly.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method ofoperation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, willbe best understood from the following description of specie embodimentswhen read in connection with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic side elevationof an arrangement according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view similarto FIG. 1 but illustrating a further embodimentof the invention; and

FIG. 3 illustrates an additional embodiment of the invention and a viewsimilar to those of FIGS. 1 and 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the three figures of thedrawing, identical elements are identified with identical referencenumerals. All three iigures show the respective embodiment in adiagrammatic side-elevation view.

In each of FIGS. 1-3 a sheet metal strip 1, supplied by anon-illustrated coil or other source, moves in the direc- `tion from theleft-hand side towards the right-hand side of the drawing in the pathindicated by the arrows associated with the upstream and downstream endportions of the strip. In all three figures the strip is assumed to passthrough a tirst drawing-roller station 2 comprising two or more drawingrollers 3, and from there towards and through a second drawing-rollerstation comprising two or more rollers 6. These stations areconventional and well known to those in the art. They could be replacedby a strip pay-out device, also of conventional construction, whichcould substitute for the station 2 and by a strip take-up device ofconventional construction which could substitute for the station 5.For'the purposes of the invention it is immaterial whether suchsubstitution is indeed made; the station 2 or the substitute therforemay be considered the strip pay-out and the station 5 or the substitutetherefor may be considered the strip withdrawing means.

As the strip 1 moves in its predetermined path between the stations 2and 5 it is subjected to a predetermined tension intermediate thestation 5 where this tension originates, and the station 2.

A strip flexing and straightening means in form of a conventionalstraightening unit 4 is provided. In the embodiment shown in FIG. l thisunit 4, which comprises a plurality of rollers which engage and flex thestrip between themselves as shown in FIG. 1, has a drive for at leastone of the rollers, and this drive in FIG. 1 is assumed t-o be avariable-speed motor which may be of conventional construction. Thedrive serves to turn the associated roller or rollers about theindicated axes of rotation which extend transversely of the direction ofmovement of the strip 1, and to affect such rotation in the directionoppositely the direction of movement of the strip 1. In other words, inthe rollers of the unit 4 rotate towards the left whereas the strip 1advances towards the right-hand side of the drawing. The unit 4 isarranged adjacent the path of the strip 1 intermediate the stations 2and 5 freely movable along an elongated zone of this path. The unit 4may for instance be mounted via suitable wheels, which are indicateddiagrammatically, on a rail or other guide means and can move in shuttlefashion in the direction of the double-headed arrow associated with ltheunit 4. The rail is identified with reference numeral 7 although thiscould simply be a oor or other support.

The unit 4 does not have a drive and it will be clear that if the speedof rotation of the roller or rollers of the unit 4 in the directionopposite the direction of advancement of the strip 1 is smaller than thespeed of advancement of the strip 1, the unit 4 will slowly move towardsthe right-hand side of the drawing. If, on the other hand, the speed ofrotation of the rollers of the unit 4 is greater than the advancingspeed of the strip 1, then the unit 4 will propel itself along the strip1 to the left-hand side of the drawing. In neither case, however, willit affect the tension of the strip intermediate to stations 2 and 5.

Reference numerals 8 and 9 identify in diagrammatic form suitablecontrol means, such as limit switches, photoelectric cells or the like,which are operative for reversing the direction of the unit 4. A moredetailed description of the operation of the control means 8 and 9 isnot believed to be necessary because they are well-known to thoseskilled in the art both as to their construction and operation. Theimportant point here is simply that, if the unit 4 approaches the end ofthe zone which extends from the control means 8 to the control means 9,for instance if it approaches the end identified by the control means 8,a signal Will be produced by the latter which will cause thevariable-speed motor 10` to rotate the rollers of the unit 4 at a higherspeed than heretofore. Thus, the unit 4 will propel itself along thestrip 1 towards the left-hand side until it encounters the control means9 whereupon, when the latter is triggered, a signal generated therebywill reduce the speed of rotation of the rollers of the unit 4 thevariable-speed motor 10 so that the unit 4 will now again move slowlytowards the right along with the strip 1. Thus, the unit 4 will shuttleback and forth between the control means 8 and 9, straightening andexing the strip 1 in conventional manner without,

however, in the least affecting the tension of the strip 1 intermediatethe stations 5 and 2. The need for control devices of the typeheretofore required is thus eliminated and the arrangement according tothe present invention is significantly simpler and less expensive thanwhat is presently known in the art. It will now be clear why a reel orstrip pay-out a device could be substituted for the unit 2 and why atake-up device could be substituted for the unit 5.

The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2 corresponds substantially to thatshown in FIG. l except for the fact that the drive means here isidentified with reference numeral 1 and is not a variable-speed motorbut rather a constant-speed motor. In the embodiment in FIG. 1 thevariation in the speeds of rotation of the rollers of the unit 4 isaccomplished by interposing a differential, illustrated diagrammaticallyand identified with reference numeral 11, intermediate the motor 10a andthe rollers of the unit 4. An auxiliary motor 12 is operativelyassociated with the differential 11 and serves to add to or substractfrom the speed of rotation of the rollers of the unit 4 by acting uponthe differential 11 in response to signals produced by the control means8 and 9, respectively. This embodiment is advantageous if the strip 1advances at uniform speed.

The embodiment of FIG. 3 is again substantially similar to those of FIGS1 and 2 except for the fact that the constant-speed motor 10a hasinterposed between itself and the rollers of the unit 4 which it drives,a variable-ratio gear arrangement 13 which cooperates with an auxiliaryor servo motor 14. The latter is of course again controlled by signalsoriginating from the control lmeans 8 and 9, respectively, and the motor14 effects modification of the gear ratio of the gear device 13 inresponse t0 such signals. This particular embodiment is especiallyadvantageous if the operation of the strip-treating arrangement isirregular, for instance if the strip advances at irregular speed,because it permits automatic control of the arrangement in dependenceupon the prevailing advancing speed.

In details concerning the variable-speed motor 10 0f FIG. l, thetransmission 11 of FIG. 2, and the variableratio gear arrangement 13 ofFIG. 3, as well as the servo motors 12 and 14 respectively associatedwith the latter two devices, have deliberately not been given, becauseall such information is well known in the art and does not constituteany part of the invention. This is also true of the construction of theunits 2 and 5 as well as of the unit 4. This is also true of the preciseconstruction and operation of the control means 8 and 9.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or twoor more together, may also find a useful application in other types ofconstructions differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in anarrangement for treating strip material, it is not intended to belimited to the details shown, since various modifications and structuralchanges may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of thepresent invention.

Without further analysis, the foreging will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can by applying current knowledgereadily adapt it for various applications without omitting featuresthat, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essentialcharacteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this inventionand, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to becomprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of thefollowing claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent isset forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An arrangement for treating strip material, particularly continuouslyadvancing sheet metal strip, comprising in combination, strip pay-outmeans; strip withdrawing means operative for withdrawing strip from saidpay-out means in a predetermined path and at a predetermined tension;and strip flexing and straightening means arranged adjacent said pathand being constructed and arranged for shuttling along the same andsubjecting the advancing strip in said path to iiexing and straighteningwithout affecting said predetermined tension.

2. An arrangement for treating strip material, particularly continuouslyadvancing sheet metalstrip, comprising strip pay-out means; stripwithdrawing means operative for withdrawing strip from said pay-outmeans in a predetermined pathand at a predetermined tension; and stripflexing and straightening means for flexing and straightening the stripWithout affecting said predetermined tension, including a unit arrangedfor travel along said path in a predetermined elongated zoneintermediate said pay-out and said withdrawing means, roller meansengaging the strip in said zone, drive means for driving said rollermeans at a predetermined peripheral speed relative to the advancingstrip for flexing and straightening the same, and control meansassociated with said drive means and operative for varying saidperipheral speed in response to said unit approaching the respectiveopposite ends of said zone so that said unit will shuttle along saidpath between such opposite ends of said zone.

3. An arrangement as defined in claim 2, wherein said drive meanscomprise a variable-speed motor.

4. An arrangement as defined in claim 2, wherein said drive meanscomprise a constant-speed motor, a differential interposed between saidconstant-speed motor and said roller means and operatively connected`with both, and an auxiliary motor associated with said control lmeansand said diiierential and being operative for varying the speed of thelatter in dependence upon signals generated by the former in response tosaid unit approaching the respective opposite ends of said zone.

5. An arrangement as defined in claim 2, wherein said drive meanscomprise a constant-speed motor, a variableratio gearing interposedbetween said constant-speed motor and said roller means and operativelyconnected with 6 both, and an auxiliary motor associated with saidcontrol means and said gearing and being operative for Varying the ratioof the latter in dependence upon the signals generated by the former inresponse to said unit approaching the respective opposite ends of saidzone.

6. An arrangement as defined in claim 2, said control imeans comprisingswitch means respectively arranged in the region of the opposite ends ofsaid zone and adapted to be actuated by said unit.

7. An arrangement as defined in claim 2, said control means comprisingphotoelectric means respectively arranged in the region of the oppositeends of said zone and adapted to be actuated by said unit.

8. An arrangement as dened in claim 2, wherein said roller meanscomprise at least two rollers each having an` axes of rotation extendingtransversely of said path and in substantial parallelism with thegeneral plane of the strip advancing in said path, said rollers rotatingin a direction opposite to the direction of advancement of the strip.

9. An arrangement as dened in claim 2; further comprising rail Imeansextending along said zone and` said unit being mounted on said railmeans for rolling movement therealong.

10. An arrangement as defined in claim 2, wherein said pay-out meanscomprise a feed reel carrying a coil of convoluted strip, and whereinsaid withdrawing means comprise a take-up reel on to which the strip iswound subsequent to advancing n said predetermined path.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,333,282 11/1943 Wilson 72-1602,432,828 12/1947 Stone 72--160 2,760,546 8/1956 Lorig 72--160 2,963,07112/1960 Krynytzky 72-165X 3,171,464 3/1965 Holtz 72--160 3,397,5658/1968 Ritter et al. 72-164X MILTON MEHR, Primary Exaniinei`

